Three startup experts have joined forces to launch Ad Astra Ventures, a San Diego-based business accelerator focused on helping female-led startups.
Ad Astra is let by led by Silvia Mah, executive director of Hera Labs; Allison Long Pettine, founding partner of Seed San Diego; and Vidya Dinamani, co-founder of Product Rebels.
“Ad Astra Ventures wants to find the best founders who are building high-growth businesses and equip them with the tools necessary for continued growth,” said Mah. “Not only are we enabling businesses to thrive by focusing on success factors we’ve identified through our years of experience as investors and VCs, but we’re looking at everything we do through a female-focused lens.”
By some estimates, venture-backed companies that include females as senior executives are more likely to succeed than companies with only men in charge, yet women-led companies receive just a fraction of venture funding nationally.
“We’re forming Ad Astra Ventures to address this gap,” said Vidya Dinamani, co-founder of Product Rebels. “We know there are many excellent female leaders and we want them to excel.”
To be a part of the program, startups must have revenue, paying customers, and a female on the founding team. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 31, and the first 12-week program begins Feb. 27.
